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Hundreds of Students from DC Area Gather at State Department to Debate World Issues at Global Classrooms Model UN Conference

Participants from 31 Public Schools Simulate the United Nations’ Work, Special Adviser to Secretary of State Clinton Ronan Farrow Delivers Keynote Address

May 1, 2012

WASHINGTON – More than 700 middle and high school students from the Washington, D.C. area are attending the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® Washington, D.C. Model UN Conference at the U.S. Department of State today. The event features keynote speaker Ronan Farrow from the State Department’s Global Youth Issues Office. Discussion topics include metals and mining, the human rights of migrant workers, and child soldiers. Now in its ninth year, Global Classrooms Washington, D.C. serves 31 D.C. area public schools and involves many volunteers from area universities.

Through Global Classrooms Washington, D.C., students and teachers participate in year-round activities to help them understand the UN system, increase their knowledge of other cultures and traditions, improve their ability to think analytically, and creatively tackle global problems collectively.

“Students’ experiences with Global Classrooms throughout the year help them emerge as leaders at the Model UN conference and develop life skills they never forget,” said UNA-USA Executive Director Patrick Madden. “Today, students from the Washington, D.C. area enter one of the most important diplomatic buildings in the world to simulate real-world situations that confront UN and State Department officials every day.”

The popularity of Model UN simulations in the U.S. has grown steadily at both the high school and middle schools levels. However, most simulations are sponsored and conducted by private academic institutions. With the expansion of the Global Classrooms program over the last decade, UNA-USA brings the experience to an increasing number of public schools and their students.

ABOUT UNA-USAThe United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), a program of the UN Foundation, is a membership organization dedicated to inform, inspire and mobilize the American people to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations. UNA-USA works to accomplish its mission through its national network of chapters, advocacy efforts, education programs, and public events. UNA-USA and the UN Foundation create the single largest network of advocates and supporters of the United Nations in the world. For more information on UNA-USA, visit www.unausa.org.

ABOUT GLOBAL CLASSROOMSGlobal Classrooms is UNA-USA’s innovative educational program that engages middle school and high school students in an exploration of current world issues through interactive simulations and curricular materials. Global Classrooms cultivates literacy, life skills and the attitudes necessary for active citizenship. Created in 1999, the program bridges the gap in the Model UN community between experienced programs and traditionally underserved schools worldwide. For more information on Global Classrooms, visit www.unausa.org/globalclassrooms.

ABOUT THE UN FOUNDATION

The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.